title: Bacteriophage-mediated transduction of antibiotic resistance in enterococci.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Temperate bacteriophages are bacterial viruses that transfer genetic information between bacteria. This phenomenon is known as transduction, and it is important in acquisition of bacterial virulence genes and antimicrobial resistance determinants. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the role of bacteriophages in gene transfer (antibiotic resistance) in enterococci.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three bacteriophages from environmental samples isolated on pig host strains of Enterococcus gallinarum and Enterococcus faecalis were evaluated in transduction experiments. Antibiotic resistance was transferred from Ent. gallinarum to Ent. faecalis (tetracycline resistance) and from Ent. faecalis to Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus hirae/durans and Enterococcus casseliflavus (gentamicin resistance).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bacteriophages play a role in transfer of antibiotic resistance determinants in enterococci.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study confirms previous suggestions on transduction in enterococci, in particular on interspecies transduction. Interspecies transduction is significant because it widens the range of recipients involved in antimicrobial resistance transfer.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Sansom Institute, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mazaheri Nezhad Fard
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Barton
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Heuzenroeder
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000235:genetics*; D004267:DNA Viruses / Q000235:genetics; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology*; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D016984:Enterococcus faecium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000494:pharmacology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000494:pharmacology; D013753:Tetracycline Resistance; D014161:Transduction, Genetic
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005839:Gentamicins; D013752:Tetracycline